The American Academy of Pediatrics Response to the Growing Health Needs of Children

At its planning meeting in May 1988, the executive board of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) established the promotion of access to child health care as its top priority. Later in the year, the following resolution was passed at the chapter president's forum: "That the Academy develop and support legislation to assure a health program that guarantees all children and pregnant women access to a comprehensive (basic) package of health care benefits that treats all children and pregnant women equally, and that the Academy work with legislators to draft a model program that, to the extent practicable, maintains parental control of health care decisions, preserves the physician's primary obligation to his or her patient, and effectively utilizes private insurers."

In October 1988, the executive board approved a universal access-to-care proposal consisting of three components: (1) the introduction of federal legislation that guarantees financial access to medical care for all